Interaction-enhanced integer quantum Hall effect in disordered systems

Abstract

We study transport properties and topological phase transition in two-dimensional interacting disordered systems. Within dynamical mean-field theory, we derive the Hall conductance, which is quantized and serves as a topological invariant for insulators, even when the energy gap is closed by localized states. In the spinful Harper-Hofstadter-Hatsugai model, in the trivial insulator regime, we find that the repulsive on-site interaction can assist weak disorder to induce the integer quantum Hall effect, while in the topologically non-trivial regime, it impedes Anderson localization. Generally, the interaction broadens the regime of the topological phase in the disordered system.